Water-dropper (calligraphy)
A water-dropper is a small device used in East Asian calligraphy as a container designed to hold a small amount of water. In order to make ink a few drops of water are dropped onto the surface of an inkstone. By grinding an inkstick into this water on the inkstone, particles come off and mix with the water, forming ink.
Water-droppers may be made of copper, jade or other stone, or ceramic. A water-dropper has two small holes for water and air, and is designed so that only a few drops of water can fall at one time.
There are a few types of water-droppers.
| Type of water-dropper | Hanzi / Kanji | Pinyin | Rōmaji |
| Water-dropper with pouring spout and a handle | shuǐzhù | suichuu | |
| Water-droppers in diverse forms with large openings | shuǐzhōngchéng | suichuujou | |
| Jar-like water-droppers with large opening | shuǐyú | suiu | |
| Frog shaped water-dropper | chánchú | senjo |